Stephens Co. Issues First Same Sex Marriage License

In the wake of last week’s Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide, Stephens County has seen its first same-sex marriage license issued.

Stephens County Probate Judge Glenda Ernest says that her office had issued one same-sex marriage license since the Supreme Court ruling last Friday.

Ernest says her office, along with all other Probate Judge’s offices in Georgia, are complying with the court ruling.

She also says that the marriage license application has been reworded and updated to match the change in the law.

Last week, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal said that while he believes the issue should be decided by the states and the legislatures, not the federal judiciary, he also believes in the rule of law and the state of Georgia is subject to the laws of the United States and will follow them.

In addition, Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens issued a statement last week stating that Georgia’s local governments are now constitutionally required to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, to issue those licenses in the same way and via the same procedures employed for all other applicants, and to recognize same-sex marriages on an equal footing with all other marriages.